He finally founded the establishment of Astoria.

This settlement fell into the hands of the British during the war of 1812.

Mr.Astor sought to persuade the American government to permit him to renew the establishment at its close, only asking a flag and a lieutenant's command, but Mr.Madison would not commit himself to the plan.
Among Mr.Jefferson's pet schemes was that of a substitution of gunboats for fortifications, and for supporting the authority of the laws within harbors.

The mind of Mr.Jefferson had no doubt been favorably disposed to this mode of offensive defense by the experience of Lafayette at Annapolis, in his southern expedition in the spring of 1781, when his entire flotilla, ammunition of war, and even the city of Annapolis, were saved from destruction by two improvised gunboats, which, armed with mortars and hot shot, drove the British blockading vessels out of the harbor.

Jefferson first suggested the scheme in his annual message of 1804, and Gallatin did not interfere; but when, in 1807, the President insisted, in a special message, on the building of two hundred vessels of this class, Mr.Gallatin objected, because of the expense in construction and maintenance, and secondly, of their infallible decay.
Mr.Jefferson persisted, and Mr.Gallatin's judgment was vindicated by the result.